Dedicated to

I unstrapped the seatbelt that was cinched around Lisie's small frame, she clung to me tightly and began to sob. I sang to her and tried to coo her.

I could not help but worry, feeling the stress lines form across my face.

What was going to befall us in this small town? And why was that strange someone stalking me?

If I myself was pretty shaken by the events of today, I couldn't bear to think of what effect it would have on a kid, who was just five years old.

She continued sobbing and I just kept on petting her hair and singing softly in her ears. That seemed to work some magic because after a while, she finally quietened down. Her sobs now turned to hiccups and I kissed her soft hair. Holding her up just the way I used to when she was little, I used my face to rub her stomach. She squealed in delight and kissed my left cheek.

"I love you, baby," I muttered in her ear.

She snuggled closer to me and told me the same.

"Now, let's get you showered and ready for dinner," I stated and dropped her on the ground. She smiled and trudged her chubby little legs along the stone path that led to the house. Dusk was starting to set and the golden rays of the sun cast an orange glow about. The flowers that were planted by the side of my house, fluttered slightly in the breeze. Their bodies swaying here and there.

I closed the back seat door and picked up the scattered books that were strewn all over the car. That done, I put them in Lisie's bag and zipped it. It had been a really long day for me; work and taking care of my little kid, was taking it's toll.

I just wish I had some form of support, knowing it would help immensely.

I sighed once again, and headed to open the door for Lisie to go in and have her bath. But probably knowing who she was, I knew it would take a lot of begging and plays to get her to it.

Lisie had always been a spitfire right from her earlier years. She always cheered me up whenever I felt sad and lonely—thinking about my husband but, she was my strength. She was the one who kept me going and I couldn't be more grateful to have her as my kid.

I noticed Lisie tapping her foot on the ground, probably itching to go inside. I often mused at how she could act so mature at times in certain situations even though she was just a little child. Searching my hand bag for the keys and finally finding it, I inserted it into the door lock and a 'click' sound was heard.

Lisie bobbed up and down in excitement and flung her school shoes on the gray coloured rug of the sitting room, as soon as she entered the house. She looked so happy.

Hell, I wish it was so for me.

She held her hands up in the air, whirling and dancing around to a tune that was probably playing in her head. I chuckled lightly at that, the events of the day were now forgotten.

Kids, I sighed. One minute they are shedding tears, the next, they are smiling sunily like nothing ever happened.

Dropping her school bag on the brown, striped couch, I closed the main door and looked round, trying to survey if everything was still in place. This was indeed an old habit of mine and it felt a bit refreshing to take every single detail into account. It had always helped me get through the years and I knew it always would.

The house seemed just the way I had left it when I had been rushing to drop Lisie off at school earlier this morning.

Toys were scattered all over the rug. There were unwashed dishes which were clustered on the dining table, the telephone was dangling from the receiver on the wall, bright-coloured socks were strewn about and the chairs were upturned.

But upon a closer look at the cream colored walls of the sitting room, there was a huge hole and I couldn't help but wonder how that came to be.

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It's time for your bath, Lisie," I ordered. "It's already getting late!"

I just had about enough of the play Lisie was engaging in and time was also running quickly. Sometimes, I felt I was being too lenient with my kid. Most at times, she proved difficult and disrespectful and she didn't fear the consequences. I hadn't been trained that way and I definitely didn't want her going down that road.

I watched Lisie run round the house some more with a pencil in her mouth and I could not help but be amused.

How would someone see homework as something fun to do?

That was always how my baby took her book work. She would play around the house while doing it and in no time, she would have it completed.

I shook that thought out of my head and braced myself for the task at hand.

"Bath now!" I ordered again. Lisie stopped running around suddenly and scrunched her face before heading slowly to her room. Finally!

I flipped the egg I had been frying sunny side up and removed the frying pan from the fire. The egg was already done, so I added it to the plate of spaghetti on the dining table using my frying spoon. It hadn't taken me long to arrange Lisie's school items in her wardrobe and do some minor cleaning before I began cooking. All the while, Lisie had been doing just homework. Imagine that!

"And scrub that body of yours clean," I shouted after her. "Don't want you smelling while we eat!"

I could hear her grunt and the rushing of water in the bathroom. I was about to dish out another plate of spaghetti when I heard the telephone ring. I frowned.

That was odd.

The house phone didn't ring except when it was a call from Lisie's teacher. I pondered on that as I sauntered to where the telephone was situated in the sitting room and answered the call.

"Hello," I was met with static. "Is anyone there?"

More static.

Now, what the hell is going on?

I sighed and dropped the call, hanging the telephone back on the wall.

I saw Lisie walk barefeet to the dining table, her hair all wet and droopy on her shoulders. Her blue eyes twinkled with mischief. And I couldn't help but ask, "Are you sure you scrubbed well?"

She bobbed her little head up and down and I made my way to the kitchen to get her a silver fork.

I served my food and placed it on the dining table, my mind wandering far away.

Could it be that the person that was stalking me was the one that called to creep me out?

If that was it, then their goal was definitely achieved as I was totally out of my sorts. I rubbed the back of my neck, the act I do when I was worried and dug into my food silently.

Almost immediately, Lisie spoke up, her mouth stuffed with food.

"Who was on the phone, mommy?" she asked, furrowing her brows. She had stopped eating and all her attention was on me. "Was it daddy?"

I paused and stared at her in wonder.

How could she go and say something like that?

I sighed and dropped my fork with a clang. No matter how many times I tried to convince my kid that her daddy had gone to heaven, she would intermittently keep on asking about him. But could I blame her?

She looked at me with her lovely blue eyes and gulped slightly. "Why aren't you saying anything?" she asked.

I suddenly found my voice and spoke up.

"I am sorry honey, but your dad has gone to heaven to meet his maker."

I emphasized on the word 'maker' although I knew I was probably being too hard on her in telling her the truth so bluntly but I also wanted to at least maintain a hundred percent honesty with her. She was my kid afterall.

I watched her nod her head slightly as if unsure of herself and continue eating her food. This had sure been a long day, I thought as I picked up my fork and attacked the remaining spaghetti and egg on my plate.